Our first Therapy Dog Training Class for 2016 finished up on Sunday at Animal Alliances on Damon Road in Northampton, Massachusetts. Our classes are designed to train handlers and their dogs in the skills and techniques needed to make meaningful therapy dog visits in both healthcare and educational environments.
The Bright Spot Therapy Dog Training Classes are required as part of the certification process. A team must complete and pass the course to be eligible for an evaluation. The evaluation takes place in a nursing home where both the handler and the evaluator can observe the dog’s reaction to the environment and to real residents and patients. The evaluator will be looking to see the team utilize the skills and techniques taught in class. He will be looking to see if the dog – and the handler – engage with the residents. Most of all, he will be looking to see if the dog is enjoying this type of work. To become a certified Therapy Dog Team, both the handler and the dog must pass the evaluation.
Our next Therapy Dog Training Class will be held at Exercise Finished in Chicopee, Massachusetts, starting on February 28th. Our classes are interactive and kept small to allow ample time for practice and questions. If you have been thinking about doing Therapy Dog work with your dog, check out our website for details and sign up today.